Overview

Brand: Clairin - The Spirit of Haïti

Origin: Clairin Sonson Pierre Gilles, Cabaret, Archaie, Haiti

Still: Pot

Age: Unaged

Finish: n/a

ABV: 53.2%

Clairin Sonson is a core member of the La Maison & Velier clairin lineup, although it came (at least to Memphis) a little bit behind the initial slate of releases. Good things come to those who wait, as they say!

Sonson is produced by Stephen Khalil Saoud in the village of Cabaret, Archaie, just across the bay from Port-au-Prince. He cultivates and harvests the Madame Meuze sugarcane varietal on his land, before using it to create the sugarcane syrup that is then fermented and pot-distilled to create the clairin we have in front of us today.

The clairin is bottled in Port-au-Prince at a strength of 53.2% ABV.

Appearance

Clear, medium viscosity

Nose

Freshly-cut pineapple, buttered popcorn, star anise, gherkin pickle brine

Palate

Sugarcane, grilled pineapple, buttered popcorn, green bell pepper, bay leaf

Finish

Long, herbal, vegetal; bay leaf, sugarcane, bell pepper, hint of black pepper

Rating: 7/10

Summary

Sonson is a fantastic clairin. It's got the vegetal and funk qualities we expect from the Haitian spirit, but accents these notes with a unique buttery flavor.

Acidic pineapple, freshly-cut, bursts off the nose, joined by buttered popcorn in a tug-of-war between sweet/fruity and savory; a touch of star anise and brine come through on the tail end. Fresh sugarcane, grilled pinepalle, and buttered popcorn take center stage on the palate, with bay leaf transitioning to the finish, that also yields bell pepper and black pepper.

I haven't yet been let down by a clairin. Sonson, like the other releases in the Spirit of Haiti portfolio, perfectly showcases the uniqueness of this sugarcane spirit in an enjoyable way.

Further Reading